Inclined plate amalgamator



May 25, 1948. E. F. MOTARNAHAN INCLINED PLATE AMALGAMATOR 2 Sheets-Shae; 1

Filed Sept. 23, 1946 I Enventor EDWARD .F. Mc. TARA/AHA y 1943- E. F. M TARNAHAN I INCLINED PLATE AMALGAMATOR Filed Sept. 23, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EDWARD F MQDRNAHAN (Ittorn'eg Patented May 25, 1948 INCLINED PLATE AMALGAMATOR Edward F. McTarnahan, Seattle, Wash.

Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,764

2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for collecting particles of gold and silver from finely crushed rocks and the like; and particularly such apparatus with passageways for such rock when crushed to travel therethrough in oppositely disposed flumes.

In the process of collecting fine particles of gold and silver from crushed rock and sand and the like it is important that the material be carried in a water solution over surfaces covered with mercury for amalgamating together with the particles of gold and silver. It is also important that such passageways and surfaces shall continue in relatively long distances for collecting all of such particles, and where such longitudinal distances are not available in a continuous line it is important that the same length for such surfaces be arranged within a relatively small surface area.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a plurality of flumes each relatively short in itself but connected with one or more others will provide a passageway by rotation through the series of flumes by gravity. It is a further object to provide in such fiuines a series of smooth plates covered with mercury over which the solution of pulverized rock and water will flow downward for collecting gold and silver by amalgamation with the mercury; and further to provide at the lower end for the last one of a series of flumes a catch basin to gather any of the particularly light particles which may have failed to connect over the plates.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter stated I have illustratively exemplified my invention by the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of two flumes operatively connected together. Figure 2 is a vertical side elevation of the flume shown in Fig. 1 with portions in section. Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of a side wall of one of the flumes shown in Fig. 2, with plates in section. Figure 4 is an end view of the two flumes suspended by a. frame. Figure 5 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view showing two side walls and one of the plates in section, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Figure 6 is a perspective plan view of one of the curved plates from the flume. Figure 7 is an enlarged detail fragmentary cross section view of one of the plates with a silver plating thereon and a film of mercury thereover. Figure 8 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view of the adjacent ends of two flumes and a conduit connecting the flumes.

Like characters on the different figures represent like parts. The Letters A and B respectively represent a pair of flumes for receiving and conducting finely crushed rock and the like containing particles of gold and silver, all in a water solution. The top or head end ID of A, is supported at a determined elevation by a frame work I I and Obliquely across the inside of the walls l5-l6 are affixed a series of cleats l'l spaced apart for supporting flat amalgamator plates I8 across the flume On suitable slight decline from the head of the flume, sufficient to facilitate the flow of water' and crushed rock and metal particles thereover. At the outer ends of the cleats are flanges I9 to prevent the fiat plates from shifting outward while'in operation, but over which the plates may be readily moved manually.

The plates are of dimensions to extend laterally from wallto wall and outward a suitable distance for the flow thereover. The plates are preferably formed from what is known as Muntz metal, or copper or other suitable metal which will not tarnish or rust and will maintain a smooth surface, and these are preferably reinforced by ribs beneath, not shown, to prevent sagging thereof. Before use, the top surfaces are coated with a fixed sheet silver plating Zfl-to assure a smooth surface and to facilitate removal therefrom of congealed amalgam with silver and gold particles. Over the silvered plating is spread a film or coat of mercury indicated as 2| in Fig. 7 which normally remains in such position being slightly attracted by the silver plating; but when particles of silver or gold in the solution flow over such mercury, the mercury and such particles of gold and silver combine into an amalgamated mass which slightly adheres to the silver plating.

Alternately between the cleats I! in spaced relation between the same are additional cleats 22 aflixed to the walls of the flumes for supporting additional amalgamator plates 23 which are constructed with silver coating and mercury in like manner as described for the fiat plates [8; but are further extended outward beyond the front edges of the fiat plates and their outer edges are curved upward for baffles 24 to catch and stop the overflow of a solution from the flat plates above and to direct the flow thereof inward or backward toward the bottom 25 of the flume. The rear corners ofthe curved plates are provided with legs 26 leaving spaces 21 for passageways for the down flow of the solution to the next flat plate beneath the same. The two sets of cleats are relatively disposed in oblique positions across the inner walls of theflume in order to support the plates, when the head of the flume is elevated to the desired position, in relatively inclined positions with the degrees of slope downward and outward from the bottom of the flume to facilitate the flow by gravity thereover, of the solution. These degrees of slope may be changed as desired lessen the slope of the alternate curved plates,

therefore the cleats for supporting the curved plates are given a reater degree of slope inward and downward than the slope given for the fiat plates,thus providing .a sufiicient slope for the curved plates for conducting the solution inwa'rd even after the head of the fiume has been ele drawings.

The fiume B is provided with similar sets of flat 4 thence the fluid solution flows over and from the several fiat plates falling from the outer edges thereof and splashing down upon the outer portions of the curved plates whereby the solids in the solution arebroken up: to-facilitate the removal therefrom of the particles of silver and -gold. Having described my invention I claim as new and curved plates as described for the fiume A! The head end of fiume B-=is supported by similar yoke and-eye bolt as for'flume A and alongsideofthe lower endor tailof fiume A and connected therewith by a'conduit or. short tube 28' for pasries a thread 33 which meshes in the side wall [5 of fiume B and so permits sufficient rotation to provide adjustment of the elevations and slopes of the fiumes. The other end of the conduit is connected with the lower end of 'thewflume' A and may be held thereto in any suitable manner" as by any spot weldindicated by 34 to a reinforcing strip 35 which is attachedto'the floor 25'. At the base or tail end of'B is provided 'a catch basin 29 for trapping'any lightweight particles of gold or silver that may have escaped capture on the plates." An exit with the cap 30 at one end of the basin facilitates the removal of the contents of the'basin.

The fiumeB as shown in the drawings is disposed in a sloping direction in reverse to the fiume A but parallel with each other so thatthe two fiumes require an area for operation no longer than either one fiume might require alone, but

the length oftravel provided for the flow of the 7 solution is approximately'four times the-"length of either fiume, for the reason that the'flow for ward and back on the flat and curved plates in each fiume doubles the length of travel therein, which is again doubled by the two flumes, thus facilitating the use of the flum 'es in a relatively small area.

, In practice it is advisable to provide duplicatesets of both kinds of plates for each'flume so that when necessary to remove any of the plates when suitably covered with the amalgamated mercury'and silver and gold such plates may be removed while-the flow of the solution'is-con tinuing and clean plates inserted in their stead.

, It is also advisable to provide suitable tanks of tity-of water supplied through the pipe 3|, and

". j 1 far- Letters Patent 1 vated a greater degree than indicated in the 1.An apparatus for collecting gold and silver from'cru'shed rock and the like, comprising, a

-- fiume having sidewalls and bottom, a frame for supporting the head end of the fiume on a slope from the bottom end, adjustable means connected between the frame and head of the fiume for varying the degrees offslope thereof, cleats attached obliquely across the insides of-the-wallsi of the fiume in spaced relation .oneabove the other; for supporting flat amal amator plates on suitable angles across the-fiume tofacilitateithe flow of liquid solution of crushed rock-and particles of gold and silver thereon, flat amalgama- I tor plates disposedacrossthe fiume and over respective pairs of cleats at the-ends thereof for supporting-- and guiding such-solution, additional;

' cleats attached to the walls of -the- -flume between' said first described cleats and in =spaced--relation therefromfor supporting alternate plates, addi: tional amalgamator plates having their outer edges extended beyond the outer'edges-ofthe flat plates and being turned upward for loaiiies. for reversing the flow of solution backward toward the fioor of the fiume and having passageway through the inner -edges of the curved plates fortheflow-- of the solution to the successive flatplatebeneath, a silver; plating; mounted on-the upper faces of-allsuch platesfor-assuring smoothness thereofand to prevent the loss of mereuryg therefrom, a coat of mercury sprea d oi ier the. faceof a silverr plating for attracting and amalgarnating with particles of gold and silvervfrom the solution. l V 2'. A'structure' described in the foregoing claim 1, together with a-secondflumehavingsimilarly constructed and disposed plates, the head end of the second fiumebein'gelevatedhigher than the tail thereof and mounted along side the tail end of the first fiume, a tubular duct for a d'justably connecting the fiumes at their juxtapositiorr'and v for conveying 'solution' from the tail of the fir-st' name, to the head of the second fiume, a trough acrossth'e tail of'the second "fiumelfor gathering light particles began and silver that have failed to amalgamate onfthe plates, said-'flumeslb eingn disposed in parallel lines with the tail ofthe secohdfllime opposite to-and-lower thanotheh'eadl of the first fiume to conserve space. and provide relatively long distancertravel' for' the solution'i ov'efthef multiple sets .of plates? insideorfairela;

7 I I EDWARD. McTAiaNArI ArIQ messen ers-curtail tThe-following-referencesPare of-record ln-ithe file of{this-patent p w I UNITED -STATESPATENTS 7 Date?! 

